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Task Instructions:

  1. Watch the video on Robodoc.
  2. Use the following questions as a guide to generate supporting arguments for your case. You may conduct a quick search for links/videos that may provide you with discussion points. Please contribute your arguments to the page by clicking on the Edit button, type out your points and save.
  3. Tweet any interesting links/articles/videos you find using the hashtags #educ5103 #telemed5103
  4. Choose one member of your group to present your responses to the class.



(General question for both pro and con groups) - What parallels do you see between the adoption of Robodoc and digital technology in education?

Fear of the unknown in terms of technology and it's implementation




Your counterparts may argue that Robodocs are the answer to servicing remote areas with medical specialists. What are the potential drawbacks of no longer actively recruiting specialists to service remote areas, and instead relying on remote-controlled robots?







Robodocs may be touted as a cost-cutting savior to out-of-control spending in the healthcare sector. One could make the argument that we could create a more efficient system where “call centres” are set up for certain medical specialists to service the whole country from a central location. What are the potential drawbacks to this approach?


CONs
  • May require two people to do the work of one, so a nurse and the doctor not just a doctor
  • Dehumanizing
  • The equipment will fail and patients live's will be at risk
  • Wrong diagnosis because of lack of technology for proper diagnosis

COST
  • Maintaining the equipment
  • Software updates
  • Software updates and licensing
  • Expensive way to provide simple care
  • It is more of a marketing of technology and becoming Sci-Fi
  • Planned obsolencence.... will need replacement in a few years I bet, whereas training doctors is a 25-30 year investment (or more)
  • Reduction in staff because of the budget concerns to pay for the robots